IAP is good news for SA operators: TCA

The company responsible for approving Intelligent Access Program (IAP) providers says trucking operators in South Australia will benefit from the scheme’s introduction.

South Australia yesterday introduced IAP, which is already being used in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

Operators must install GPS monitoring technology and agree to have their vehicles tracked in return for increased access to the road network.

"If they have tried to access a particular route and failed, the IAP may provide operators with an opportunity to have their application reviewed, by being prepared to use the IAP as a voluntary compliance tool," Transport Certification Australia CEO Chris Koniditsiotis says.

"Under the IAP operators can demonstrate that they are not straying from their approved route or that they are not operating outside agreed times specified by jurisdictions."

Operators in Queensland and NSW must use IAP to gain higher mass limits access. South Australia limited the scheme to higher productivity vehicles – the same as Victoria, which also applied it to cranes and concrete pump trucks.

TCA is responsible for certifying IAP providers and says it subjects all applicants’ GOS devices to rigorous tests to ensure their reliability and accuracy.

The introduction of IAP in South Australia was highly contentious, with the South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) and the Opposition campaigning against it.

During the debate on IAP, SARTA Executive Director Steve Shearer labelled the Rann Government "pig-headed and arrogant" for not accepting concerns raised over the effectiveness of IAP.

However, Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas has flagged the possibility of extending IAP’s coverage to off peak operations.

IAP may be expanded beyond route compliance, as governments look at the viability of mass-distance-location charging and mass compliance.

A sub-group of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) is currently looking at a new road charging system and is due to report its findings in December next year.